Category Archives: ASK FATHER Question Box

QUAERITUR: Of canonical digits and purifications

From a reader: Our priest does a fantastic job of guarding his thumb and index fingers once he has touched the Host. I was wondering if this is a symbolic gesture, as I have never seen our Eucharistic Ministers or Deacon wash … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Our Catholic Identity, Priests and Priesthood, Wherein Fr. Z Rants | Tagged , ,
15 Comments

QUAERITUR: Pontifical Mass in the Novus Ordo?

From a reader: This may be a stupid question, but in the Novus Ordo, if a bishop of the diocese celebrates Mass, would it technically be defined as a “pontifical Mass” since he would be the pontiff? Not a dumb-question at … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Hard-Identity Catholicism, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Our Catholic Identity | Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,
26 Comments

QUAERITUR: Of the color of wine, the amount, and the addition of water

From a reader: First off is the wine to be consecrated have to be red and how much wine poured into the chalice is enough to make it a valid mass? One of my priests told us if they don’t … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, The Drill | Tagged , , ,
16 Comments

QUAERITUR: How to correct a priest who is getting the rubrics wrong?

From a reader: A priest has started saying the Extraordinary Form Mass at a local church. The congregation is very thankful, and we make sure to let him know. [Excellent!] Unfortunately, even though he is enthusiastic about the Extraordinary Form, … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Priests and Priesthood, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM, Universae Ecclesiae | Tagged , , ,
16 Comments

QUAERITUR: How to pray a loved one into Heaven.

From a reader: In your opinion, what is the most efficacious means of praying a loved one into Heaven?  The person is yet living, but not a family member, and a non-practicing Catholic. First, it shouldn’t have to be said, … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Four Last Things, Our Catholic Identity | Tagged , , , , ,
21 Comments

QUAERITUR: Something that should be heard in every sacristy in the world.

From a reader: I’ve been having a friendly disagreement with a priest that I know, and maybe you can give me an answer: at the end of Mass, the priest will say the word “Prosit,” and the servers respond “Pro … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Mail from priests, Our Catholic Identity | Tagged , , , , ,
21 Comments

QUAERITUR: Do martyrs killed in the state of mortal sin go to Heaven?

From a reader: I know that the Church teaches that people that die in a state of mortal sin cannot go to Heaven. However, can martyrs killed in a state of mortal sin still go to Heaven? Excellent question, and … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, GO TO CONFESSION, Modern Martyrs, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, Saints: Stories & Symbols, The future and our choices, The Last Acceptable Prejudice | Tagged , , , , ,
17 Comments

QUAERITUR: Woman training altar servers stands in as priest. Sacrilege?

From a reader: My parish priest recently asked an older (semi-retired) female altar server (former MC & Sacristan) from another parish to train our altar servers for enrolment into the Guild of St Stephen (http://www.guildofststephen.org/). First of all she discourages genuflecting (as it … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Our Catholic Identity | Tagged , ,
25 Comments

QUAERITUR: Do I have to add details when I confess sins?

From a reader: In confessing a sin is it necessary to describe (giving some details of) the sin rather than merely indicating the name (species) of the sin? You don’t have to go into great detail, but you ought to … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Global Killer Asteroid Questions, GO TO CONFESSION, Our Catholic Identity | Tagged , , , , ,
19 Comments

QUAERITUR: Confession – interpreters, eavesdroppers, secrecy and you

From a reader: Father, I spend a lot of time in Finland which has Europe’s smallest Catholic Church, [not to mention one of Europe’s oddest languages…] both in terms of absolute numbers and in terms of percentage of the population. … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, GO TO CONFESSION, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Our Catholic Identity | Tagged , , , , , ,
12 Comments